Nearly six in 10 of those polled support the proposed changes to U.S. energy policy being developed by Congress and the administration. Fifty-five percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling the issue, compared with 30 percent who do not. A narrower majority, 52 to 43 percent, back a cap-and-trade system; that margin is unchanged since June. A cap-and-trade system would set a ceiling for the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and it w

ould allow firms to buy and sell emissions permits.

The poll also asked how Americans think we should get our energy. More than eight in 10 people say they support the development of electric car technology; nine in 10 people support further development of solar and wind power.

As for the conservative favorite, nuclear power:

Fifty-two percent favor building more nuclear power plants, but that support drops to 35 percent if the new plants were within 50 miles of the respondent’s home. Support for building nuclear plants is up about six percentage points since 2001.